Pages

Monday, July 8, 2013

Triple Threat Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies-Ghirardelli Review

You guys, I dropped everything, changed around my entire post schedule, and did some very last minute things (which usually makes Kayle hyperventilate) so I could make this post happen. Because I was contacted by Ghirardelli about attending a party they are holding here in NYC tomorrow--and, as you may know, tomorrow I'm leaving for Ohio--but I love Ghirardelli and I was so sad I was missing the party but they told me I could try their new new line anyway! So I got my exciting package on Wednesday and used the sweet ground cocoa powder to throw together these cookies on Thursday. Then I wrote this post on Friday. *whew*. Anyway, let's discuss Ghirardelli, shall we?

I'm going to assume you know about Ghirardelli. They make amazing chocolate and I am OBSESSED with their chocolate chips, they're all I use. Today we're talking about something new: they're unveiling a new line of premium baking, hot cocoa, candy making and dipping products with zip-up pouches that are easy to open, use, reseal and store – perfect for frequent bakers and entertainers. (I LOVE THE RESEALABLE POUCHES!) Also, the new products make it easier to take advantage of the small bites/desserts trend that is super fun! Ghirardelli wants to inspire bakers to host a “small bites” party, where friends and family can bring various smaller versions of desserts and cocktails and share! Check out their small bites site for ideas!

What, specifically, are the products we're talking about?

Candy Making & Dipping Wafers

These come in easy-to-use wafer form, ensuring smooth & even melting-and no need to break/chop up bars! It can be microwaved (and even reheated!); and hooray-no tempering is needed, it'll set up perfectly and make amazing candies, dips, fondues, etc. Comes in white or dark chocolate varieties.

Premium Hot Cocoa

The newest flavor, Ghirardelli Chocolate Caramel, joins Double Chocolate and Chocolate Mocha-all made with real Ghirardelli chocolate, vanilla extract, and no hydrogenated oils. These cocoas dissolve easily and have a rich flavor (my kind of hot cocoa!) The Double Chocolate powder can (in addition to hot cocoa drinks) also be used to sprinkle over everything from coffee drinks, iced cocoa to desserts.

Premium Ground Cocoa

Ghirardelli Unsweetened and Sweet Ground Cocoa have Ghirardelli’s intense chocolate taste in the new re-sealable pouches. The Unsweetened Cocoa Powder is made from non-alkalized cocoa powder and perfect for all your baking needs where you need unsweetened cocoa powder! The Sweet Cocoa Powder has been alkalized using the traditional Dutch process and has the perfect blend of sugar, vanilla and real Ghirardelli chocolate to create a well-balanced chocolate taste. This is great for frostings and brownies etc. etc.--and you can sub it in for unsweetened cocoa powder, just take out 1/2 cup of sugar from any recipe where you do so!

I cannot wait to try out all of the new products!!! EEEE so exciiiiited!!

Wanna try out the new Ghirardelli goodness, too?? Scroll down past the recipe to find out how to enter to win it!

Speaking of the cocoa powders, I've never used a sweetened cocoa powder before, so I thought I'd play around with that a smidge! I used it in these marvelous, fudgy, rich, cookies. The recipe called for "dark cocoa powder" which...I wasn't sure if that meant sweetened or unsweetened, so I took 1/2 cup of sugar out of the recipe and am glad I did because these were perfectly mellow, definitely not too bitter or too sweet!

And why are they called triple threat? Because chocolate is incorporated in 3 ways: cocoa powder, melted chocolate, and chocolate chips! YUM.

What we have are intensely fudgy, chocolatey cookies with a hint of peanut butter, and studded with gooey chocolate chips and, in my case, the perfect bite you get from flakes of sea salt on top. Do you know how I know Michael liked these, too? He tried one and then said, "Oh these are awful. You shouldn't eat any more of them." Ha ha. Nice try bud. Plus he said, "I like sea salt on cookies." Yes honey, me too.

These cookies are not sturdy, they are melt in your mouth, fall apart, delicious. If I drank milk, I would have a big glass with these cookies, because they are quite rich. Which is exactly how I like it :D

(yes...I poured a glass of milk solely for the photos. Then I poured in back in the carton. I dirtied an extra dish so you could have some pretty pictures to look at. That's love. You're welcome.)

Notes: -You can sub unsweetened cocoa powder for the sweetened, just add in an extra 1/2 cup of sugar.-To take advantage of "small bites" you can make these cookies much smaller. Simply scoop smaller cookies and keep an eye on them-they will bake much more quickly.

Giveaway closes July 22nd, 2013, 12 AM EST. After the contest is over, I will send the winner an email (so please make sure you provide an email address or some other way to get in touch with you), and obtain shipping information (we do not share this information with anyone). The winner will have 3 days to respond or another winner will be chosen, all prizes will be awarded. The winner will be chosen via a random number generator. Open to U.S. residents over the age of 18. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

Additional (optional) entries:(you will receive one additional entry for each of the following--so if you leave a comment for all of them, you can have a total of up to 8 entries/chances to win!) MAKE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY-these entries are optional, not required.

Disclaimer: Ghirardelli provided me with product, and I was under no obligation to review if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product. My opinions, as always, are all my own. We are not liable for technical failures or typographical errors, or resolving identity disputes related to the winner.VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.